Knicks vs Celtics Picks, Predictions & Player Props (Feb 23)

• The Boston Celtics are 8.5-point home favorites against the New York Knicks on Sunday
• The Knicks are 0-6 vs the NBA’s top 3 teams, including two losses to the Celtics
• See the Knicks vs Celtics predictions, player props, and best available odds on Feb. 23

After getting blown out of the water Friday night in Cleveland, the New York Knicks (37-19, 17-9 away) are in Boston to take on the Celtics (40-16, 17-10 home), a team that’s clubbed them twice already this season.

New York is a heavy road underdog in the NBA odds, as they have struggled to hang in games against the NBA’s top teams. Action tips off Sunday afternoon at 1pm ET, from TD Garden in Boston, with ABC/ESPN+ carrying the broadcast.

Knicks vs Celtics Odds

Boston checks in as an 8.5-point favorite, and a short -333 on the moneyline. The total is set to 231.5 points, a figure these teams have crossed once in their two meetings on the season.

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Odds as of February 22 at BetMGM. Be sure to check out the best BetMGM promo code before placing a bet on any NBA game on Sunday.

The Knicks have some question marks coming into Sunday. Josh Hart (knee) has been listed as questionable, as is OG Anunoby (foot), who returned to the lineup last game against Cleveland, but appeared to re-injure his foot.

Boston is relatively healthy, with reserves Neemia Queta (illness) and Xavier Tillman (knee) both questionable Sunday.

NYK vs BOS Player Props

NBA player props from Bet365 on February 22.

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Jayson Tatum has the highest scoring total for the Celts at 26.5, though he’s coming off a light 15-point scoring performance in Boston’s win over the 76ers coming out of the all-star break. Jaylen Brown is next at 21.5 points.

Jalen Brunson matches Tatum for the top scoring prop. He had 26 in Friday’s loss to the Cavaliers. Karl-Anthony Towns is in at 24.5 points, while holding the top rebounding total at 12.5. Either KAT or Brunson have been the Knicks’ leading scorer the last seven games.

Brunson has the top assist line at 7.5, one ahead of Tatum at 6.5. The Boston forward picked up 10 assists as part of a triple-double effort against Philadelphia.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Predictions

• Knicks vs Celtics pick: Celtics -8.5 (-115)
• Knicks vs Celtics prop pick: Tatum Over 26.5 points (-115)

It was not the start out of the all-star break the Knicks were looking for, as they were destroyed by the Cleveland Cavaliers 142-105.

The Knicks, who currently sit third in the East, may be a Top-5 team in the NBA Championship odds, but they are now 0-6 against the Top 3 teams in the league: Cleveland, OKC and Boston.

In those games, the New York defense is surrendering 126.5 points per game, a massive 13-point difference from their regular season scoring average of 113 per game.

Perhaps even more stunning is the Knicks’ offense — which ranks Top 4 in the league at a healthy 118.1 point-per-game clip, is putting up an average of 105 points against these top teams, never cracking 110 points in any of the six games.

That includes a pair top the Celtics, who routed them 132-109 on opening night, and then 131-104 in February.

Boston, who suffered through a mid-season slog, appears to be back on track, right in time for the stretch run. They hammered Philly 124-104, its fourth straight win.

The Celtics have just one loss in the last nine, and are getting in done on both ends of the floor, averaging 118.1 points per game, shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.5% from distance, while turning it over just 11.6 times per game.

Defensively, Boston is limiting the opposition to 106 points per contest, holding teams to 43.5% shooting from the field and 32% from 3-point range.

The Celtics have owned this head-to-head of late, taking six of the last seven, while going 5-1-1 against the spread.

While New York is one of the better bounce-back teams in the league, going 11-7-0 ATS following a loss, they will either be shorthanded or fielding a lineup of players less than 100% if Hart and Anunoby are able to suit up and playing a third game in four nights out of the all-star break.

That’s a tall order for any team, let alone a visit to the home of the defending champs.